Wisbech reply with
five-try comeback

Wisbech 1st Rugby v Wymondham Action ANL-150102-140733009

Wisbech came from behind to score five tries in testing conditions in Eastern Counties 1.

From the kick-off Wisbech played themselves into the Wymondham 22. After a couple of phases Raimondas Vinksna was able to drive over in the left hand corner from 5 metres.

Wymondham replied with a converted try then piled on the pressure; Wisbech now conceding several penalties for infringing at the ruck with Vinksna receiving a yellow card. With Wisbech down to 14 players, Wymondham slotted over a penalty to stretch their lead to 10-5.

Coach Leonard Veenendaal and skipper Solomon Prestidge laid down the law which had the desired effect. From the hosts’ sustained pressure the Wymondham centre found himself in the sin bin for a high tackle.

Backs and forwards combined with quick hands to send Lewis Haddon over in the left hand corner (10-10).

The two sides traded penalties and Jack Malkin slotted one to take Wisbech all-square on 13-13 at half-time.

Skipper Solomon Prestidge opted to go for the corner and was rewarded with a superb catch and drive try from the forwards with Jacob Goat being the beneficiary to go over, replacement Mark Laws skimming the uprights with the conversion.

Wisbech’s defence held out, they won a lineout just over 30m out and mauled their way all the way over the Wymondham try line, this time Prestidge touching down, converted by Laws.

Wisbech were now camped for long periods in the Wymondham 22. From a Wisbech scrum Laws scored the easiest of converted tries under the post with a rehearsed backs move straight from the training park.

Prestidge and Kerrie McMullen were superb in the forwards but De la Rey Veenendaal was awarded MoM.

Coach Veenendaal said: “It was disappointing to have conceded two soft tries, but I was happy with the response and the heart shown by the lads.

“To score five tries in such appalling conditions took a team effort.

“This weekend we travel to Ipswich which is never an easy place to visit. We have a lot of work to do this week to ensure we up our game.”